With the Summer months upon us, the price of gas has inevitably crept up recently. A few cents here, a few cents there, and WHAM we may hit $3.00 a gallon again any day!
So naturally, we are all looking for ways to save at the pump. Here are my top 7 tips for saving fuel:
- The most simple way to save is to drive less. Easier said than done, right? But if you strategically group errands in a single trip, you can reduce miles driven. Other options include carpooling, walking or biking if at all possible.
- Meal Plan. Yes, you read that right! If you have a healthy stockpile, and plan for weekly meals, the drive thru or those quick trips to the store will become unnecessary.
- Proper maintenance is essential for good gas mileage. This includes regular oil changes, checking your tire pressure, and replacing dirty air filters.
- Lighten your load! If your car is full of clutter or bulky objects, it will affect your mileage. I frequently remind hubby to remove his golf clubs from the trunk!
- Slow down. Not only is it just plain safer, your car will get better mileage at speeds below 60 mph.
- Accelerate and brake with care. This was something I changed about my driving habits last year, and I noticed a huge difference! Ease on and off the pedals and you will save fuel.
- Pay cash at the pump. This may be a challenge if you have kids in the car, but many stations charge a hidden fee if you are paying with plastic. Check carefully to see if your station has a fee.
For more Frugal Fun, visit Life as Mom.
What tips would you add to my list?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been using Speedway’s Speedy Rewards program. It doesn’t cost anything to join, and it takes a little while to earn points. But I’ve gotten to save 10 cents off per gallon for several fill-ups so far. Every little bit helps!
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If you use a roof rack for long road trips , it adds a lot of additional drag and will reduce your miles/gallon. So, remember to take it off after the road trip is over – and if you can avoid a roof rack or roof top bike rack for the the long trips altogether, it will really help you improve your fuel economy. Great post!
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today i was able to get gas for $2.79 [which is really cheap compare to $3 in CA] and it was while i was out getting other great deals so it felt even better to put gas at lower than usual
Maria´s last blog ..thank you so much HotPrints!
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today i was able to get gas for $2.79 [which is really cheap compare to $3 in CA] and it was while i was out getting other great deals so it felt even better to put gas at lower than usual
Maria´s last blog ..thank you so much HotPrints!
Sorry… forgot to say great post – can’t wait to read your next one!
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My tip doesn’t save money immediately, but it could help a ton at tax time. A lot of times if I know I have a trip to make on the other side of town, or in a different area, then I’ll schedule a mystery shop over there. Then I can deduct my mileage as a business expense on my taxes. I keep track of the locations that I mystery shop at and keep of spreadsheet of all of that detail. Then I just print a mapquest on each location, multiply mileage by two to account for there and back, then multiply by the IRS rate. Last I heard it was 50.5 cents per mile. It can add up to a lot of savings in a year’s time.
Danielle Miller´s last blog ..Oops!
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